Best Freezer Meals For New Moms Dads

Preparing for the arrival of a new little one is so emotional in so many different ways—and being somewhat prepared for life after baby comes home can be so helpful. And though you can never really prepare for the sleepless nights and hormonal rollercoaster (or the overwhelming sweetness of the newborn phase), you can get a few meals ready and waiting in the freezer. This post contains all of my favorite easy meals to make ahead and freeze. The postpartum freezer meals can be shared with a toddler or big kid if you have an older sibling at home, too. They’re great options to prep for yourself if you have energy or to send to a friend or family member to make for you. These are also the options I turn to if I’m part of a meal train for a friend or loved one. There are easy meals, some great postpartum snacks, and tips for batch-cooking staple ingredients like grains and beans, too. (My Ultimate Guide to Freezing Food, easy Pregnancy Recipes, and my Freezer Containers may help, too.)

Savory Muffins to Freeze Ahead

These muffins are easy to make, have a nice dose of veggies, and freeze and thaw really well. I like to thaw frozen muffins overnight in the fridge or more quickly at room temperature, and heat in 15 second increments in the microwave. As a parent, I love savory muffin recipes because they are nutritious but also easy to eat with one hand. Plus, they pair well with soups and salads or just sliced fruit as an easy meal for new moms. Sign up for our email updates to get tips and ideas sent to your inbox.

Soups, Stews, and Sauces to Freeze Ahead

Packed with veggies and easy to prepare, these make-ahead soups, stews, and sauces will simplify pulling together meals in future weeks and months. I like to freeze soups and sauces like these in quart-size freezer containers, which is a nice portion size for a family. Use smaller or larger containers as needed for these easy freezer meals for new moms.

Nuggets, Bites, and Tots that Freeze Well

Stash these dinner ideas for kids into the freezer for options to share with older siblings. These all work to make ahead and freeze, then warm up in minutes.

Sweet Muffin Freezer Meals

Muffins are perfect for easy breakfasts and snacks or as a side for a dinner. Each of these freezer meals for new moms is packed with nutrients and is a simple meal for an older sibling, too.

Meatballs to Stash in the Freezer

Meatballs, which I love to serve in salads, grain bowls, pasta, sandwiches, or broth, are one of my favorite freezer meal components to make ahead and freeze in almost any phase of life, but especially the postpartum phase. You can simmer frozen beef, chicken, or lamb meatballs in pasta sauce or broth to thaw, or thaw overnight in the fridge and warm in short 15-30-second increments in the microwave.

Grains and Beans to Make-Ahead and Freeze

Grains like rice and quinoa, and beans are staples in what I feed my family so I always batch-cook them and freeze them for future freezer meals. This is great for post baby since you can pull them out and put together super simple, yet nourishing meals. Prepare grains such as rice, quinoa, or farro according to package directions and let cool fully. Freeze, then thaw in the fridge or at room temperature.

Best Snacks to Make Ahead and Freeze

These are some of my go-to healthy snacks to make ahead and stash for later for both myself and to (sometimes, ha!) share with older kids.

Best Tips for Freezer Meals

Here are some of my best tips for freezer meals to enjoy once baby is here.

Let any food you plan to freeze cool fully before stashing it in the freezer. Store in containers meant for the freezer including freezer storage containers and freezer zip-top bags. Remove as much air as possible to reduce the chances of freezer burn. Label and date all food so you know what it is. If you freeze food that someone dropped off to you, be sure to label it with reheating info so you remember what it is and how to prepare it. Think through whether you’ll want a large portion of a food or if you would rather have smaller portions to grab individual meals for yourself. Freeze some foods for older siblings so you have snacks and meal components ready to go. Freeze any of the foods in this post for 3-6 months. Send recipe links to friends or family to cook for you! Use any of these in a Meal Train. Add flavor to reheated food with fresh herbs (such as basil or parsley), cheese (such as cheddar, mozzarella or Parmesan), a drizzle of olive oil, sour cream, or hot sauce.

I’d love to hear your favorite freezer meals, so please comment below to share!